All cruise ship casinos have numerous slot machine options, and most have table games as well, including blackjack and a variety of poker games (Ultimate Texas Hold'em, Caribbean Stud, Three Card. The Casino department offers the following cruise ship jobs: Casino Manager, Assistant Casino Manager, Casino Dealer/ Croupier, Casino Cashier and Slot Technician. In compliance with international custom laws, the casino is only allowed to open while in international waters usually three miles out to sea.
A poker cruise is something worth taking at least once in your life.
Don’t worry about it being extremely expensive, it actually is cheaper than a lot of resorts.
In fact, you can enjoy almost all the amenities of a cruise for close to $100 per day, which can be considered as a real steal.
The best part about these poker cruises is that apart from the fun and frolic of being out on the sea, you can enjoy a game or two of poker.
The buy-ins are not that high and most tables welcome newcomers and beginners to the game, so it really is not that daunting heading up to the table.
You are out at sea to have some fun and if possible to make some money. Most tables do allow play but you do have to be over the age of 18.
The best options when thinking about going on a poker cruise would be to check out websites and companies who specialize in poker cruises.
Cardplayercruises & Ante up magazine are just a couple of the renowned poker cruise companies but there are a few more out there.
Rather than spend an hour or two finding the best cruise ships for poker, let us do the work and list down the best options out there.
Also read: How Do I Use Pokertracker To Improve My Game?
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Here is our list of the best poker cruises
Celebrity Cruises: One of the more technology savvy cruise lines out there. Celebrity cruises features a non-smoking Fortune casino in most of their ships but its not just limited to that.
They also contain various options while playing at the table covering almost every kind of poker game. The ships also contain lots of slot machines, so you can try your hand out there.
You can even download an app and play anywhere on the ship while sailing on international waters, how brilliant is that?
Norwegian Cruise Line:This has been rated as the best cruise line as per the readers of a leading magazine. The cruise line features a Vegas themed casino and has many games and slots for people to try out.
The casinos on this cruise line also feature blackjack, roulettes and craps, among other games.
Signing up for the Sea Players club ensures that you get a few perks while playing like free drinks and the cruise line also holds an annual Poker Challenge to test the best.
Royal Caribbean International: Another cruise line which has based its casinos on Vegas, the Royal Caribbean International also features various rounds of poker at its tables and like the Norwegian Cruise Line, it also has a lot of other games which you can try out during your sea faring adventure.
One great feature of this cruise line is that apart from the poker games & tournaments on all times, it has a tie up with MGM Resorts which means that there are certain perks for trying out this cruise line.
Carnival Cruise Lines: One of the more popular cruise lines at the moment. Carnival Cruise Lines are known for their rather shiny and bright décor which often catches people out but not so that they lose at poker games.
Poker Dealer Cruise Ship Jobs
This cruise line has a great variety of poker games which caters to all. It also features craps, roulette and a host of slot machines to keep you busy.
The cruise also helps you earn points for the Ocean Players club, that should be something to look out for.
Holland America Line: The HAL casinos (as they are more popularly known) has a rather glitzy atmosphere which you might expect. It also features some rather friendly dealers which helps you relax on your cruise.
The cruise features craps, hold em poker, three card poker, roulette and blackjack, depending on which ship you go on. This cruise line also features the popular Wheel of fortune and the well-known Super Jackpot Party.
There is something for everyone on this cruise line.
Princess Cruises: The ships in this fleet have a range of games like most of the other top cruise lines out there.
Play on the Princess Cruise line is only for those who are above the age of 21 though. Some of the ships in the fleet do allow some smoke free casino nights which can be a boon or a bane for players.
Of course you do earn a lot of points for the Ocean Players Club while at the cruise.
A great holiday experience
These were some of the best poker cruise lines out there and if you have a remote liking or interest in poker, you should plan a holiday on one of these cruise lines.
Often you not only get some great games but also a range of amenities like those in the best resorts.
For a rather low amount you do get all the food you can eat, room service, access to gyms, spas, Jacuzzis etc, this of course depends on which ship or cruise line you pick.
Of course a word of warning, if you are a little squeamish about being on water, you should avoid this trip.
There is no point risking your health, so always get a doctor check-up before going on a cruise like this.
One thing is a certainty, if you do go on a poker cruise like this, it will be an experience which you will never forget.
Why would you want to become a poker dealer?
There are a few reasons that poker players, in general, decide to become poker dealers. One of those reasons, the most obvious reason, is that dealing poker is very profitable – much more profitable than most people realise.
Think of it like this, it’s pretty much good practice to toss the dealer a buck every time you win a hand right? Not everyone does it, but most of us do, some toss more especially the travellers and other people that don’t play the game on a regular basis.
How much do poker dealers earn?
For right now, let’s go with that, an average of $1 per hand in tips. We won’t even take into consideration tourists and other big tipping games. Now we’ll consider another fact about dealing poker, the fact that poker dealers are expected to deal an average of 30 hands per hour minimum.
So, assuming an average of $1 tip per hand, 30 hands per hour means poker dealers are making about $30 an hour in tips plus very small paychecks they are taking from the casino.
In Oregon, for instance, at Chinook Winds Casino poker dealers are paid $8.80-$9.48 plus tips. Comparatively, Table Mountain Casino in California pays new dealers $8 plus tips. Dealers in Oregon must pass an audition at the casino as well as undergo an extensive background investigation, pass a drug test and receive a licence from the Gambling Commission.
There are lots of openings for tournament dealers; however, cash game dealer positions are actually pretty hard to come by.
How do I become a certified poker dealer?
Poker Dealer On Cruise Ships
The most common way to become a certified poker dealer is to take a class on dealing poker. The length of poker dealing classes varies from as little as two weeks to as many eight weeks. The price of the classes varies almost as much as the length required in them.
The ease of finding a class and being able to afford that class largely depends on where you’re located. For instance, in Oregon at Chinook Winds Casino, classes are offered free during the slower months in effort to gear up for busier summer events.
Classes at Chinook Winds Casino are usually a couple of weeks long with as much follow up as is required for a new dealer to pass an audition. Caesars in Las Vegas also offers free poker dealer classes when they’re gearing up for the World Series of Poker season. These classes are three weeks long, are followed up by auditions, background checks and licensing by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
The average price to learn any new casino game seems to range from these free classes, that aren’t offered regularly, on up to about $1500 with a guaranteed job placement after you’ve graduated at the larger more expensive schools. It’s been said that the best dealer schools teach new dealers how to deal multiple games including Chinese Poker.
If you are curious what sort of things you might learn at a professional Holdem Poker dealer school check out videos on YouTube for learning to deal casino poker.
Dealing these major tournament events offers these new dealers a venue in which they can hone their skills, become ready to pass stricter auditions working in places such as Atlantic City, Las Vegas or aboard poker cruise ships.
Poker Tournaments On Cruise Ships
Obtaining your State Dealers Licence
Once you’ve gotten the necessary training, and a position at a casino, you’ll need to become licenced by the state where you’re to be employed. This process generally involves proving your citizenship via the same documents employee’s use to prove their right to work legally within the United States and passing a criminal background investigation.
The background investigation usually requires that the applicant submit to fingerprinting and submit a photograph of themselves with their application. Applications then need to be renewed every 3-5 years.
Breaking into the Industry
If you’re looking to become a licenced dealer, at an actual casino, you’ll need experience dealing professionally. It’s the same catch 22 the world has dealt with when looking for employment for decades, you have to have experience to get it.
Ship It Poker Cruises
The best way to break into the field without actual live game dealing experience is during large tournament events. When casinos hold monthly, quarterly or annual large events they tend to be very short-staffed so this is a great time for a trained, yet under experienced dealer, to pick up some extra dealing time and grab some experience to put on the their C.V.
Poker Cruises Alaska
The biggest tip you can take advantage of is to learn every game you can whenever you get the chance. Whether it’s poker, or another casino game, the more games you can list on your job applications the more appealing you will be to the casinos you send your C.V. to.
Remember, as you hear about free classes like the one’s held occasionally at casinos like Caesars, that 100’s of dealers before you have paid a lot of money for these classes to get their position within the casino. You may have to pay for other classes in the future so, snap up these free opportunities whenever and wherever possible!